re: Fastest ways to get hardened snow off your windshield?

If you can’t open your door it’s because ice has frozen up in the seal of the door. Just give it a couple firm shoulder checks to crack it up then open.

You never want to pull just the handle because you’ll either break the handle or damage the rubber seal inside the door

ETA: if there’s ice in your lock and you can’t insert key, just throw a cup of hot water on it

As far as snow on your car, lesson learned that you need to clear snow off as soon as you can, never let it settle on your car overnight to semi melt and refeeeze